Analyzing Cabinet-Level Positions for Continuity of Government

1. Continuity of Government—A Network Approach to Cabinet Level Positions Peter A. Hook,JD, MSLIS Electronic Services Librarian Indiana Univ. School of Law—Bloomington Doctoral Student School of Library and Information Science http://ella.slis.indiana.edu/~pahook Presidents that have been Cabinet Members Number of Officials (As of June 6, 2008) Associative Conceptualization of the Cabinet Continuity Network (80) 620 people have either been President of the United States, Vice President, a cabinet member, or some combination of the three. The numbers on this chart in parenthesis indicate the number of unique individuals in a particular cabinet position. (People are counted twice if they served more than once in the same office with at least one other person serving between the two terms.) The numbers do not sum to 620, because, on average, each person serves in 1.14 different offices. Breaks in Continuity Gray nodes are cabinet officials serving 30 or more days in two or more administrations. The arcs point to the presidents under whom they served (green nodes). (72) The following presidents did not have any cabinet members that were cabinet members for 30 or more days in a previous administration: (64) Harrison caveat – As President William Harrison was only in office for 32 days, all of his cabinet officials were counted as having served at least 30 days. (55) (47) (42) • Harrison, William • Grant • Garfield • Cleveland (22) • Wilson • Harding • Eisenhower • Kennedy • Clinton (21) Highest out degree = Most administrations served: 2 Mode Conceptualization of the Cabinet Network John C. Calhoun (4 ) & Henry L. Stimson (4) Nodes are both people and offices. This allows for a more nuanced capturing of an administration. High inflow degree for a particular cabinet position indicates high turnover for that particular position (Attorney General (4); Secretary of the Treasury (4)). High outflow for a particular individual might indicate high confidence placed in him/her by the President (Richardson (3)). The Greatest Connected Component All networks rendered with Pajek. Cabinet Mobility Network Arcs represent subsequent cabinet positions held by the same individual. Is there a Starter Cabinet Position? • In the graph on the right, arcs represent subsequent cabinet positions held by the same individual. • In the aggregate, cabinet positions with a net outflow may be regarded as less prestigious than cabinet positions with a net inflow. • Rationale: In the aggregate, once an individual has held a cabinet position, s/he will not accept a different one unless it is more desirable. (2) (7) Secretary of State Postmaster General vs. Out Degree Weight - 5 Out Degree Weight - 9 In Degree Weight - 24 In Degree Weight - 1 Net - 19 In Net - 8 Out Note: Out Degree does not include 6 who became President